Railway-signal.



I. PIERCE.

RAILWAY SIGNAL. APPLICATION IEILIHD JUNE 9,1910.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

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Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

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I. W. PIERCE.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1910.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANoaRAPM co., wAsHxNG'roN, D. c.

I. W. PIERCE.

, RAILWAY SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1910.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

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Nin s'rarns ATENT oFFro.

IRWIN W. PIERCE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, IRWIN WV. PIERCE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Railway-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to signals operated by the passage of the train, and is especially designed to actuate one of a series of electrically operated signals selected by an operator on the train, to indicate destination, route to be followed, or analogous purpose.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means actuated from the moving train, which shall reliably operate a signal at a more or less distant point.

Another important object is to maintain such signal to the exclusion of others until the train has passed a predetermined point and operated a release or make-and-break contact which returns the electric circuits and connections to the original condition ready to be operated by a succeeding train.

A further object is to provide an arrangement of the mechanical portions of the apparatus by which the latter may be easily installed and but little exposed to unintentional or accidental contact with suspended or other project-ing portions of the moving train, and which will permit the train to be moved in the reverse direction without affecting the signal or deranging the apparatus, and, generally to provide a signaling system of this class which shall be positive in operation, simple in its mechanical and electrical construction and not liable to derangement.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts by which the above objects are attained, to be hereinafter described:

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show an approved form of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the track mechanism and train mechanism, a portion of the latter being shown in vertical section. The outlines of the car and track are indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a corresponding end elevation of the train mechanism. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same parts, seen from below. Fig. 4L is a vertical Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 9, 1910.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

Serial No. 566,023.

section taken transversely of track and showing an end elevation of the track mechanism. The succeeding figures are on a larger scale. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the track mechanism, with a portion of the protecting casing in horizontal section. Fig. 6 is a corresponding side elevation with the casing in vertical section. Fig. 7 is longitudinal section taken on the line 7#7 in Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the same parts as seen from the right in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. Fig. 9 is a similar view of the opposite end. Fig. l0 is a face view of a switch carried by the car. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the electric circuits and connections.

Similar letters of referenceindicate the same parts in all the figures.

A A are the rails, B a car, shown in dotted lines, having wheels B1 mounted on suitable trucks, not shown, supporting the car in the usual manner. Attached to a portion of such truck and projecting downwardly therefrom is a centrally located plate B2 having on each side of the lower face a rib or shoe B3 between which are arranged a series of strips or contact-bars b, 51, b2, b3,

b4 extending longitudinally of the plate and insulated from the latter and each other.

Located at each end of the car conveniently to the motormans position, is a switch C having four contact points c1, c2, c3, c4 connected by wires in a cable C1 to the contact-bars b1, b2, b3, b4 on the plate B2 and connecting the bar b to the switch-lever.

The shoes B3 are so positioned relatively to a trip-lever between the rails as to present one or the other to such lever and tilt the latter by contact therewith regardless of which end of the car is serving as the front, and by thus tilting the lever present a series of contact-fingers to the contactbars 5, b1, b2, b3, b4, as will be described.

D is a bed-plate securely bolted to the ties or otherwise fastened to the roadbed between the rails and having attached thereto ashallow casing D1 open at the top and having oppositely inclined closed ends D2. In the casing at one side of the center line of the rails is mounted a transverse shaft A1 carrying a trip-lever A2 having a. head A3 with beveled or inclined faces adapted to be struck by either of the shoes B3 and tilted by such contact. The lower portion of the lever is bifurcated and incloses above the shaftI A1 a tubular sleeve A4 attached to the in the vertical position but permit its tilting movement in either direction. The rod AG terminates at one end in a yoke A10 pivotally connected to a crank-arm E1 on a shaft E extending transversely of the casing and supported in bearing D3 D3 on the b edplate D.

On the shaft E is fixed a wide horizontally disposed arm E2 carrying a series of fiexible metallic fingers e, el, e2, e3, c4 arranged side by side, extending,longitudinally of the casing and track, and lying when depressed or in the normal position, flush with or slightly below the plane of upper faces of the rails A A. The fingers are spaced to correspond to the contact-bars Z), b1, b2, b2, 54 carried on the car and are arranged to contact therewith when elevated.

The passage of the shoes B3 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l, tilts the trip-lever and through the spring AS induces a yielding endwise movement of the rod AG and partial rotation of the shaft E which raises all the fingers simultaneously into the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 7 in which position they are wiped by the contact-bars on the moving car.

Each finger is insulated from the others by sheets of insulating material E2 on the upper and lower faces of the arm E2, and the latter with the fingers is returned to the depressed position by the retractile action of a series of vertically arranged helical springs E4 E4 one for each finger and in electric connection therewith. The lower ends of the springs are insulated from each vother and the plate D and each is provided with a binding post E5 through whichelectric connection is maintained with its finger.

A lug EG on the arm E2 serves to limit the upward movement of the fingers by contact with an upturned liange Fl on an adjustable stop F mounted on the plate D.

On the crank-arm E1 at the lpoint E7 is pivoted one end of a connecting-rod or link .g G made in two portions bolted together to permit adjustment as to length, and the other end is pivotally joined to the short arm G1 of a bell-crank leverA G2, the long arm of which carries a contact point adapted to make electric contact with an insulated segmental plate G3 on a bracket G4 adjustably mounted on the bed-plate D, when the trip-lever A2 is tilted to lift the fingers e, c1, e2, c3, e4 and slightly in advance of their rise to the plane of contact with the -lever to continue its movement by idly compressing such spring, while the other spring A9 allows the trip-lever to be tilted in the opposite direction, as in the backing movement of a car, without other effect than the idle compression of that spring. By properly adjusting the tension of the springs, through the nuts A11 A12, the trip-lever when released is returned to the normal approximately upright position.

N is a lever, only partially shown, mounted between the rails A A in the path of the shoe B2 and serves when struck by the latter to operate a switch N1, see Fig. 1l, and momentarily close a circuit through which thel signal and its circuits are returned to normal, aswill be described. The lever N is located at any desired point in advance of the train at which the signal is to be obliterated.

In describing the operation of the apparatus and the electric circuits and connections as shown in Fig. 1l, it will be assumed that the signals m1, m2, m3, m2 are electric lamps indicating to a switchman the destinations of approaching trains and enablinghim to set his rail switches to correspond to the destination or route indicated by the glou7 of each lamp as selected by the motorman through his electric switch C on the car or train, but it will be understood that other signals than lamps may be operated and for other purposes than of router or annunciator.

The lamps may be located on the stat-ion platform, in a switch tower, or other situation, depending on the purpese for which the signals are to serve.

Assuming the lamp m1 to be selected as the signal to be set, the motorman on approaching the trip-lever A2 moves his switch C at either end of the car serving as the front,

to the contact-point c1. When the shoe B2 t on the plate B2 strikes the trip-lever A2 the first eii'lect is to move the bell-crank lever G2 and make contact at G3 and condition the circuits for service, the further movement of the trip-lever raises the fingers c, el, e2, e2, c4 into contact with the bars b, b1, b2, b2, b4 on the moving car and a circuit is established as follows :hStarting from the battery M, or other source of current, through the normally closed switch H1 and wire H2 to contact point G3, finger c, contact-bar ZJ, wire H2 and switch lever C, switch point c1,

vcontact-bar 51, finger el, wire g1 to electromagnet switch J, energizing its magnet and closing the switches J1 J2, thence through the wire g2 and normally closed magnetswitch Ky and wire g3 to the battery M. The current through this track circuit energizes the magnet J and closes both switches J l J2 simultaneously, current thus passes from M through j and jl, switch J1 and wire j2 to the lamp or signal m1 and thence by return wire y2 to the battery M thus completing the signal circuit and setting the signal. The switch J2 which closes at the same time, completes a circuit from g1 through is, switch J2 and wire k1 to electro-magnet H and wire 7a2 to the battery M and opens the track circuit so that dan-- ger of short circuiting through the fingers c, el, e2, e3, e4 is avoided and no other signal is permitted to be set from the train through inadvertence or neglect in throwing off switches C on other cars of the train. The circuit which energizes the magnet J to act in this manner is as follows :-lVhen the signal circuit described above is completed, the magnet J closes switch J2 and energizes magnet H through a circuit traced from the battery M through wire 702 to magnet H, wire k1 to switch J2, wire and magnet J, wire g2, switch K, wire g3 to the battery, the effect of closing this circuit is to break the track circuit and prevent short circuiting or inadvertent attempts to set another signal, as pointed out above. The circuit through the signal remains closed, holding the switches J1 J2 in closed condition with signal set, until the shoe B3 on the car strikes the release lever N located at a point in the track beyond the trip-lever A2 and momentarily closes the switch N1 which closure completes a release circuit through the wire nl from y'2, and wire n2 leading to the magnet K1, thence through wire n3 to g3 and the battery M, energizes magnet K1, breaks the circuit through switch K and permits switches J1 J2 to return to original open positions, obliterates signal m1 and conditions the track circuit and signal circuits for setting the same signal m1 or either of the others m2, m2, m4 as selected by the operator on the succeeding train.

The track mechanism is strong and compact, requiring but little depth for its installation and operation, the only part lying above the rail surface being a portion of the thin head A3 of the trip-lever; and the beveled faces of such head with the inclined ends D2 D2 of the casing in which the mechanism is inclosed reduces to a minimum thc danger of derangement or of accidentally setting a signal by contact or engagement with hose connections, chains, or other downwardly projecting portions of the car equipment.

Although the trip-lever and its associated mechanism is shown as located between the rails, and the contact plate described as located beneath the car, it will be understood that these parts may be placed to co-act at any other location or level.

Other modifications may be made in the mechanism and inthe arrangement of electric circuits as may be found necessary or desirable in conditioning the system for service in performing the various functions to which it may be adapted.

I claim 1. A shoe and a plurality of contact bars carried by a car, a lever mounted in the path of said shoe to be directly engaged and moved by said shoe, a plurality of fingers mounted on a different support from that of said lever for coperation with the bars, means for actuating said fingers through the movement of the lever, and a signal actuated by the contact of said bars and lingers.

2. A shoe and contact-bars carried by acar, a lever mounted in the path of said shoe and arranged to be moved by the passage of said shoe, fingers connected to said lever and arranged to be moved into the paths of said contact bars by the movement of said lever, an electric switch operatively connected with said lever and operated by the movement of .the latter in advance of the contact of the said fingers and contact bars, a circuit controlled by said switch and said fingers, and a signal actuated by the closing of said circuit.

3. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a shoe carried by a car, a lever arranged to be moved by contact with said shoe, a shaft, a crank arm thereon, a rod connected to said lever and crank arm, contact means on the shoe, yielding means acting on said rod in the direction of its length, and a plurality of contact fingers movable with said shaft for coperation with the contact means on said shoe.

4. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a shoe carried by a car, contact means carried by the car, a lever arranged to be moved by contact therewith of said shoe, a shaft, a crank arm thereon, a rod connected to said lever and crank arm, yielding means acting on said rod in the direction ofits length, a plurality of `Contact fingers movable with said shaft for coperation with said contact means, and an adjustable stop for limitingl the movement of said shaft and fingers.

5. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a shoe carried by a car, a lever arranged to be moved by contact with said shoe, a shaft and a crank-arm thereon, a rod connected to said crank-arm and extending through said lever, abutments on said rod, springs on opposite sides of said lever on said rod, each abutting at one end against said lever and at the other against said abutments, and contact-lingers mounted on said shaft.

6. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a bed-plate adapted to lie between the rails of a railway, a lever mounted in said plate and arranged to be moved by contact with a shoe carried by a car on such rails, a shaft mounted on said plate, a crankarm on said shaft, a rod connecting said crank-arm and lever, one or more contactlingers mounted on said shaft to move therewith, and a casing having an openinoF for said lever and fingers and having cIosed inclined ends.

7. In an apparat-us of the character set forth, a bed-plate adapted to lie between the rails of a railway, a lever mounted in said plate and arranged to be moved by contact with a shoe carried by a car on such rails, a shaft mounted in bearings on said plate, and means connecting said lever and shaft for partially rotating the latter, an arm on said shaft, a plurality of contact lingers carried by said arm, an adjustable stop beneath said shaft, and a lug on said arm adapted to strike said stop and limit the movement of said shaft.

8. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a bed-plate adapted to lie between the rails of a railway, a lever mounted in said plate and arranged to be moved by contact with a shoe carried by a car on such rails, a shaft mounted in bearings on said plate, a crank-arm on said shaft and yielding connections from said lever to said crank-arm, a series of insulated fingers carried by said shaft and raised by the movement of said lever in one direction, and a spring for each finger serving to depress the series when the latter is released and also as an electric connection for each of such fingers.

9. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a shaft and a series of contact fingers carried thereby, a crank-arm on said shaft, a bifurcated lever arranged to be tilted by contact with a moving shoe, a tubular sleeve mounted in the bifurcation of said lever, a rod connected to said crank-arm and eX- tended loosely through said sleeve, an abutment on said rod on each side of said lever, and springs incircling said rod and abutting at one end against the opposite ends of said sleeve and at t-he other against said abutments.

l0. In apparatus of the character set forth, a plate carried beneath a car, a switch on the car, a series of contact-bars and a shoe on said plate, electric connections from each of said bars to the switch on said car, a lever mounted between the rails and ar- 11. In an apparat-us of the character set .v

forth, a shoe and contact-bars carried by a car, an electric switch on the car connected to said bars, a lever mounted in t-he path of said shoe and arranged to be tilted thereby, a series of fingers moved into contact with said bars by the tilting of said lever, a circuit through said bars closed by said lever, said circuit including fingers and a switch, a signal, an electric circuit including said signal and closed by the closing of said lirstnamed circuit, and means actuated at the closing of said signal circuit for opening said first-named circuit. L

12. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a shoe and contact bars carried by a car, an electric switch on such car connected to said bars, a lever mounted in the path of said shoe and arranged to be tilted thereby, a series of fingers mounted to be moved into contact with said bars by the tilting of such lever, a signal, an electric circuit including said signal, a circuit including means by which said first-named circuit is closed, means actuated at the closing of said signal circuit for opening the last-named circuit, and a contact actuated by the passage of the car for opening said signal circuit.

13. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a shoe and contact-bars carried by a car, an electric switch on such car connected to said bars, a lever mounted in the path of said shoe and arranged to be tilted thereby, a series of circuits, a series of fingers moved into contact with said bars by the tilting of said lever each adapted to close one of such series of circuits through said bars, fingers and switch, as selected by the position of the latter, a series of signals, a series of circuits each including one of said signals and closed as selected by the closing of the select-ed circuit, means actuated by the closing of the selected signal circuit for opening such selected circuit, and a release circuit momentarily closed by a further movement of the car, for opening such signal circuit.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I aiiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

IRWIN vv. PIERCE.

Witnesses:

' CHARLES R. SEARLE, C. M. FREDERIcKs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ZD. C. 

